If Kim Jong Un were to stop in Honolulu en route to the White House, one look at our homeless would convince him that democracy is not a superior form of government.
Instead of using per capita income as a housing standard, Hawaii uses the completely unrealistic area median income (AMI). No individual earning $77,000 and no family of four earning $109,000 per year need taxpayer-assisted housing (“Law is expected to generate thousands of new rental housing units,” Star-Advertiser, June 9).
Yet, the state claims builders cannot make a profit building affordable housing for lower incomes.
On the mainland, rent/mortgage should be 25 percent of income, whereas 33.3 percent is considered normal for Honolulu. A family of four with combined earnings of $3,200 per month can afford rent of $1,068 per month.
None of the dollars allocated to affordable housing by the recent Legislature will house such a needy family because it is more important for builders to make a profit than it is to provide housing for those earning 100 percent in excess of per capita.
Rico Leffanta
Kakaako
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Trump gave away too much to Kim
It’s not surprising that President Donald Trump got played by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
What is surprising is that so many in the conservative media now seem to agree. Clearly Kim got significant concessions in return for vague promises. Talk about the art of the deal.
I wonder if Kim knows the fictional story, “The Mouse That Roared,” about a small, financially struggling country that declared war on the U.S.
The idea was to lose and then benefit from the economic aid that always follows.
All Kim had to do was threaten war. Maybe he has dreams of a Trump Tower in Pyongyang. I suspect Trump has.
Trump says we are safer now that he and Kim have become good friends. I don’t think so. Trump is known for his broken relationships, both at home and abroad. What happens when he thinks Kim has been personally “disloyal”?
I don’t think Kim is likely to start a nuclear war. That would mean his personal annihilation. On the other hand Trump could start one and stay safely out of the fray.
So it’s Trump who worries me more than Kim.
James Young
St. Louis Heights
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President changes based on flattery
America has a tofu president. Like tofu, he strives to stand on his own merits, but in the end he takes on the flavor of whatever seasoning is added to the recipe.
Our tofu president likes to think of himself as being firm and full of substance, but world leaders and conservative talk show hosts are quickly learning to don their chef hats and add a dash of blatant flattery that will turn an otherwise plain white lump into any dish of their choosing.
Too much flattery only makes the meal that much tastier, but not enough and you may be left with a bad case of indigestion.
Much to his delight, the North Korean leader recently enjoyed such an easy culinary success.
Kurt Lemon
Kailua
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‘Taste of Hawaii’ a big hit at Capitol
I’ve just come from the fifth annual “Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill,” hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and my friend and former House colleague, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, as I do every year.
I love Hawaii and the reception was a beautiful tribute to the gracious Aloha State.
The spirit of Hawaii came through. At my request, the trio of musicians played my most famous constituent’s “Blue Hawaii,” demonstrating Elvis’ good taste and love for your state.
It was a memorable event and Sen. Hirono is to be commended.
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen
D-Tenn.
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Don’t pass up chance to vote in August
Yes! I could not agree more with “Primary election a boon for voters” (Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 11).
We are living through depressingly fractious political times, but voting is the way to have a voice in the political process.
Change starts with voting. And it starts from the bottom, not the top, making voting in local elections especially important.
And it’s easy. It’s easy to register and it’s easy to vote. Start here: olvr.hawaii.gov. Or, if you go to the Kailua Fourth of July parade, look for a team of patriotic-clad volunteers to get you registered.
Join 437,000 Hawaii friends and family who voted in 2016. Do it. Vote.
Kim Osborn Mullen
Kailua
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Vote intelligently, not on popularity
Brad Baang hit the proverbial nail on the head (“Talk about issues, not just popularity,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 12).
If we are going to vote, we should make intelligent decisions and vote into office concerned, effective and intelligent people.
We need to know what the candidates stand for, what they would do if in office and who they are as people — not just how popular they are.
Liz Nelson
Kaneohe
